The effects of bad weather on building panels

22nd February 2018

Chris Graham

Many building panels are becoming vulnerable to the poor weather conditions we suffer from here in the UK. Due to constant rainfall, the PH levels in the rainwater will increase and can cause building panels to depreciate and develop signs of wear and damage over long periods of time. We’re going to discuss the multiple effects of bad weather on building panels in this week’s article, including:

How the UK’s position effects building panels

The consequences of heat and UV

The buildings exposed to rain and damp conditions

How to choose the most suitable protective coating for your building

Effects of bad weather on building panels

The weather is undoubtedly going to affect the quality and life expectancy of buildings coatings over time, primarily if a protective layer is not provided. The combination of hot and cold weather temperatures makes building panels defenceless to the change, and action is necessary if they are to remain protected.

Onsite spraying is one of the ways that building managers maintain their buildings and warehouses. Coatings are provided on an annual or bi-annual basis depending on the location of the building.

The principal causes for building damages as a result of adverse weather is heat and UV and rain, sleet and snow.

The UK’s position

The position of the UK means we are in the centre of five main air masses and are prone to adverse weather conditions. These five air masses include:

Tropical continental

Tropical maritime

Polar continental

Polar maritime

Arctic maritime

The UK’s position leaves it vulnerable to harsh weather from the Arctic and polar regions. The heat and UV light from the warm weather spells we experience, spreading in from Southern Europe and North Africa, is also a contribution to the depreciation of building panels. It is the fluctuating weather changes and combination of hot and cold temperatures that cause damage to building panels. If you would like more information in regards to the UK Air mass we recommend looking at The Met Office.

The consequences of UV light and heat

The inconsistent warm spells we experience, on an occasional basis here in the UK, can be having a significant impact on your building panels. Warm weather conditions cause a process where large building materials expand and then contract. When the elements cool back down and return to the original shape, the layers of material lose their chemical protection. In most instances, a cladding repair or replacement will then be needed to improve structure before applying a protective and water-resistant coating.

A second contribution to the depreciation of building panels via weather conditions is the vibrations created by warmer temperatures. In the atmosphere, the vibrations building up and cause the coating bonds to break down. Once these bonds are broken, the cladding coating starts to lose the ability to protect itself from the harsh weather.

How the rain and damp effects buildings

In the long term, the UK’s cold, rain and damp weather conditions can significantly affect building panels and roof materials.

Moisture collects on the surface of paint or protective coatings and will pool. When the temperature drops and it freeze’s, this can cause cracks and blisters in materials.

As well as the effects of the rainwater, the constant below zero temperatures can also contribute to the disintegration of external building panels. Regular freezing temperatures will also cause the paint molecules to break down and start to flake away when they begin to dry.

In addition, even in warm weather conditions, due to humidity, water and moisture are found in the air. As a result of this, any external cladding or facade coatings should be water resistant and practised using a team of expert spray painters.

Choosing a coating for your building

It is vital to get the external cladding coatings right to ensure ultimate protection for your building panels. Failing to do so may mean you cost yourself more unnecessarily for repairs and other services.

To ensure you make the best decision and correctly identify the coating you need, you need to ask yourself a few questions;

How old is the building

What is the building’s current condition

Where is the building located

What is the building material made from

Is the building exposed to sunlight regularly

Is the building heated

It is worth remembering that all building should be externally coated with a water-resistant coating to ensure a building’s longevity and save yourself unwanted costs and unnecessary repairs. It is also worth noting that if the building is going to be exposed to a lot of sunlight, it is going to be beneficial to use a UV protective spray coating.

A fluoropolymer facade coating which is an organic polymer, containing fluorine atoms, is becoming much more commonly used. It has an impressive lifespan of between fifteen and thirty years and makes having your building panels re-coated worth your while.

Summary

Living in the UK means we are exposed to a majority of unfavourable weather and the occasional tropical spells. The diverse weather changes and fluctuation in hot and cold temperatures are what causes damage to building panels and facade coatings. When we experience rare intervals of sunny weather, here in the UK, it can cause buildings to lose their chemical protection and the ability to then defend itself from the harsher weather. The more typical weather we endure here; the cold, the rain and the snow, is what then causes the materials to crack, blister and then flake away. You can also experience a significant amount of fading in the paint if the right protective coating has not been applied. The key to preventing this from happening is to choose an external cladding coating that enables the best protection for your building panels against the UK’s weather. We recommend checking the warranties provided by coating contractors; this will allow you to be sure your building exterior is protected at all times and will not fade or peel.